Bachelor of Tourism Studies (BTS) Degree Program
Transfer Students from Other Universities
If you have earned credits at another university you may be eligible to transfer some or all of your credits to Brock.
Students transferring from another university may earn a Brock 20 credit degree, as a first degree, with as few as 5 Brock credits depending on the number of transfer credits granted by Brock and their relevance to the Brock degree being sought.
Students seeking a second or subsequent degree will be granted transfer credit to a maximum of 10 credits for a 20 credit degree and a maximum of 7 credits for a 15 credit degree.
University transfer credit marks are reflected on the student’s academic record at Brock and calculated into their average.
Transfer Students from Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology (CAAT)
Are you interested in earning both a university degree and college diploma? Brock’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies has a formal Articulation Agreement with Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology. Graduates from the Tourism Marketing and Operations diploma program who have achieved a minimum 70% overall average will be granted up to 7.5 credits, as determined by the Office of the Registrar at Brock, towards their 20 credit Bachelor of Tourism Studies degree.
The following will provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that our Department receives from prospective university and college transfer students and their parents.
You can look at degree requirements and course descriptions for the Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies (BRLS) at www.brocku.ca/recandleisure and the Bachelor of Tourism Studies (BTS) at www.brocku.ca/tourism . Click on the “Course Descriptions & Degree Requirements” link to view details in the most current Brock Undergraduate Calendar .
Brock is currently accepting applications for the upcoming academic-year via the Ontario Universities Application Centre at www.ouac.on.ca . To apply to Brock as a “transfer student” please use an OUAC Form 105D.
Please note that there are different application forms and deadline dates for different groups of students (e.g. applicants from secondary schools, college & university transfer students, mature students, international students etc.). Please read the OUAC Application Guide carefully. To help you get started our Admissions Office has some helpful information on their webpage at www.brocku.ca/registrar/admissions/
What if I am a college graduate but I do not meet the criteria as stated in the College / Brock Articulation Agreements?
The Articulation Agreement mentioned above is between Niagara's Tourism Marketing and Operations diploma program and Brock’s Tourism Studies degree program only . Graduates from other college diploma programs are not eligible for the 7.5 transfer credits. The 7.5 transfer credits can only be applied toward a BTS degree.
Graduates from other CAAT tourism and travel diploma programs where no Articulation Agreement currently exists OR, students from the above CAAT program who do not achieve the required minimum 70% overall average OR, students who graduated from a college diploma program unrelated to Tourism Studies may still be eligible for some transfer credits and are encouraged to apply to Brock.
Transfer credits are not granted for certificate programs (e.g. college continuing education programs).
What are the benefits of having both a college diploma and a university degree?
Both university and college programs strive to provide students with a quality and meaningful education that balances knowledge, skill development, communications, field experience, research and content specific to the many facets of the tourism industry.
Both types of educational programs have strengths in terms of preparing students for their future careers. A university education provides greater emphasis on theory, research and critical analysis of the discipline. A university education positions students to enter professional employment directly in the recreation and tourism fields or pursue the profession of teaching or graduate study (eg. Bachelor of Education, Masters degree). A college education offers the opportunity to integrate and apply disciplinary knowledge directly in community and professional contexts. The strength of this experience is that it emphasizes practical skills employed directly in the workplace.
Given our contemporary competitive job market, more and more employers are seeking candidates who possess both theoretical knowledge and applied job skill experience. Brock's Articulation Agreements offer the potential for both of these academic experiences and students will benefit from both the university and college environment.
How long will it take me to complete my degree at Brock after I graduate from college?
It will take college transfer students who receive the full 7.5 credits 3 years to earn a 20 credit degree. This estimation is based on a full time course load of 3-5 credits per year.
Due to course pre-requisites and the scheduling of courses it is not possible to accelerate the completion of your degree in less time. The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies offers only a select few of its courses in the spring session. The Department does not offer courses in the summer session.
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for awarding transfer credits and they do so only after a student has applied to Brock and submitted their final transcript. The Office of the Registrar will review your final college and/or university transcript(s) and award credits based on your marks and the course subject matter as it relates to our degree requirements. If your courses are still in progress at the time of your application, the Office of the Registrar will wait until you have submitted your final transcript to Brock before they advise you of any transfer credits.
The annual application deadline date for transfer students is June 1st. Can I apply earlier?
Yes! We encourage you to apply as soon as applications are available on the OUAC website. For example, while in the final year of your college program you may apply before you complete your diploma. The Admissions Office will wait until you submit your “final” transcript before they confirm your acceptance and the transfer credits awarded. Applying early does not give you an edge over other applicants but it does give the Admissions Office a head start on processing your paperwork. If you do not wait until the June 1st final deadline, this helps our Admissions Officers expedite your offer of admission to Brock. Please ensure that you arrange to have your most current transcript forwarded to Brock at the time of your application.
Can I complete a BTS degree part time?
Yes. To apply as a part time student, please download a part-time application from the Office of the Registrar at www.brocku.ca/registrar/forms/AppPT.pdf . Please be sure to indicate you are applying as a "transfer student".
Can I apply for January admission?
Yes. However, please be advised that course selection is extremely limited for January admission. Full credit courses run from September to April so those courses are not available to students who start in January. Furthermore, the majority of students register for winter term (half credit) courses the preceding summer. This means that many courses that start in January are already full by the start of the fall academic year. Part-time applications for students who want a January start are available at www.brocku.ca/registrar/forms/AppPT.pdf
Does the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies Offer Courses On-Line?
We do not offer any of our core major courses on-line. However, you may be able to take elective courses on-line at another university through a Letter of Permission (LOP) once you have earned a minimum of 5 Brock credits. LOP application forms and regulations regarding courses taken on LOP are available through the Office of the Registrar.
Upon Completion of an undergraduate degree, can I work toward a Masters Degree at Brock?
Yes! Brock offers graduate studies. We currently have several students furthering their educational and research interests in Tourism Studies and Recreation and Leisure Studies. To find out more about our graduate programs in the Faculty of Applied Heath Sciences, please visit http://www.brocku.ca/ahsgradstudies/
Will a BRLS help me meet the qualifications for pre-service education (teachers college)?
Yes. Completion of a BTS degree will help you meet the minimum criteria for pre-service education programs, including our program here at Brock. However, there are different criteria for different pre-service education programs across Ontario, Canada and the world. Your marks, experience in a classroom setting, the grade level you are interested in teaching, the high school credits you have earned and the concentration of courses you take at university (e.g. teachable subjects) all play a significant role in your eligibility for pre-service education programs. If becoming a teacher is your goal, then it is imperative that you research the entrance criteria of various pre-service education programs and, that you choose your courses at Brock carefully.
For more information about requirements for the pre-service education program at Brock please visit www.brocku.ca/fed/
To research admissions criteria for pre-service education programs at other Ontario universities please visit the Ontario Universities Application Centre at www.ouac.on.ca and click on the “professional applications” link.
Where can I find out about financial aid, residence, campus life, parking etc?
Please see the Prospective Student page at www.brocku.ca/prospective/index.php and click on “Undergraduate”. You will find helpful information on all aspects of student life here at Brock.
All the best with your decision to apply to Brock.
We hope to see you here at Brock as a student in the near future!